Your Pain Has an Expiration Date - don’t look at the present pain without looking at the future glory. The promises of God to Abraham are yours. God will give you the greatest inheritance in the Abrahamic promise: Himself. God is our inheritance. What belongs to Jesus is yours because you belong to him. This inheritance comes, however, through suffering. Although God has saved you by his grace, you are guaranteed a life of suffering, partly because you inhabit a fallen world in which pain is unavoidable. At the same time, it is precisely because you are God’s child that you suffer. The glory God is producing in you outweighs the suffering, because through suffering you will be made like his Son

Editors’ note: This is an adapted excerpt from the new book Coming Home: Essays on the New Heaven and New Earth, edited by Don Carson and Jeff Robinson.

Paul’s writings are full of suffering — both in his experience and in his theology.

The apostle makes clear that it is vital for us as children of God to have right views of suffering, trial, and tribulation because they are part of God’s plan for our future glory.

Those who blame suffering, pain, and poverty on your lack of faith fail to understand texts like Romans 8:16–25.

Those who imply God is surprised by our suffering do not begin to understand God’s wonderful purposes in the adversity we experience in this life.

Paul says, “We are children of God, and if children, then heirs” - (Romans 8:16).

What does that mean? 

Of what, exactly, are we heirs?

We are heirs of the Abrahamic promises.

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will inherit it all. 

The promises of God to Abraham are yours.

But it’s not mere things you will receive.

God will give you the greatest inheritance in the Abrahamic promise: himself. 

“I will be your God, and you will be my people.”

So, what does the Christian get in his or her inheritance? God! 

God is our inheritance (Romans 8:17). 

Yet Paul doesn’t stop there.

In addition to being “heirs of God,” he says we are “fellow heirs with Christ” - (Romans 8:17).

What belongs to Jesus is yours because you belong to him.

This inheritance comes, however, through suffering.

We are “fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified in him” - (Romans 8:17).

Sorrow Now

In verse 18, Paul speaks of “the sufferings of this present time.”

Although God has saved you by his grace, you are guaranteed a life of suffering, partly because you inhabit a fallen world in which pain is unavoidable.

At the same time, it is precisely because you are God’s child that you suffer, both inwardly and outwardly.

I don’t know how many times I’ve learned, forgotten, and re-learned that lesson.

Suffering will catch me unaware, and I’ll throw up my hands and say, “Something is not right here. This is not how it’s supposed to be!”

But Paul teaches us our suffering is the consequence of being a new creation in this old creation, and God in his sovereignty has a purpose that transcends “now” and stretches into the “not yet.”

A verse from a Margaret Clarkson hymn begins simply:

"O Father, you are sovereign, the Lord of human pain."

"Sovereign Father," Clarkson says, "you’re not just the Lord of blessings who has nothing to do with my pain; you’re the Lord even of my pain."

God Almighty can make even suffering serve his eternal interests in us and produce a weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Glory Later

In Romans 8:18, Paul begins to point us to the future:

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Our trials here are real — sometimes so real and overwhelming they seem beyond our endurance, so we feel like Job and regret our birth.

But Paul explains that even if we count up all our sufferings, they cannot compare to the glory awaiting us.

The glory of the “not yet” is put before our eyes now — but not so we can escape and sing, “Pie in the sky, by and by.”

No, it is put before us so we can be strengthened to endure, engage, and bless.

When Paul says, “the sufferings of this present time,” he includes both the inward battle with sin and the outward battle with a broken world.

Nonetheless, all the suffering brought to you by inward and outward battles cannot begin to compare to the glory yet to come.

God uses this pain to produce the future glory he will reveal to you and in you.

God is going to make you so much like Jesus Christ that if you were to meet your glorified self now, you would be tempted to fall down and worship, as John was (Revelation 19:10).

The glory God is producing in you outweighs the suffering, because through suffering you will be made like his Son.

In The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn dies after a long and magnificent reign as king. 

Tolkien says of his body:

“Then a great beauty was revealed in him, so that all who after came there looked on him in wonder; for they saw that the grace of his youth, and the valor of his manhood, and the wisdom and majesty of his age were blended together.

"And long there he lay, an image of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.”

Look Ahead!

Quite the same thing will happen to you, but you’re going to be alive!

One day, we’ll meet one another in glory and say, “Perfect!”

We see in part how God works in us now, and we admire his work in each other, but on that day, we will be stunned by the perfection God has given.

In the Garden, the serpent basically said to Adam and Eve, “Take that fruit and you’ll be like God.”

Adam and Eve should have replied, “What do you mean we will be like God? 

"We are like God! 

"We are created in the image and likeness of God.”

But they grasped the fruit. 

And far from Satan’s promise, they became less like God. 

His image in humanity, though not erased, was deeply marred.

In our redemption, however, God pardons and accepts us and begins a process of remaking us into the fullness of his image.

One day he will look at us and we will be like him, or as John puts it, “We shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” - (1 John 3:2).

The Lord is making you like him even — especially — in your pain.

Are you surprised by that?

If your Savior learned obedience through what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8), do you think it’ll be different for you?

Was God up to something in his Son? 

Of course, he was.

Is God up to something in you, son or daughter of God?

Absolutely.

Don’t look at the present pain without looking at the future glory.

Take heart, suffering brother or sister — God is up to something in you. He is making you like him.

by Ligon Duncan

Ligon Duncan (MDiv, Covenant Theological Seminary; PhD, University of Edinburgh) is chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary, chairman of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and a Council member for The Gospel Coalition. He has authored, co-authored, edited, or contributed to numerous books, including Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? He and his wife, Anne, have two children.

The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

thegospelcoalition.org

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Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning - Jesus has overcome the world. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. He shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain. We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Comfort one another with these words. There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces

Streams in my desert: A teardrop on earth summons the King of Heaven - God takes special notice of those tears of yours. In some mysterious way, our complex inner-communication system knows when to admit its verbal limitations . . . and the tears come. Eyes that flashed and sparkled only moments before are flooded from a secret reservoir. We try in vain to restrain the flow, but even strong men falter. The Lord takes note of our inner friction when hard times are oiled by tears- He enters them into the record He keeps on our lives

Streams in my desert: An Eternal Perspective Brings Us Great Comfort in Grief - our grief has an expiration date. The world as it is now is under the curse, but God will lift it once and for all: “No longer will there be any curse.” No more sin. No more cancer. No more dementia. No more suffering. No more death. God “will swallow up death forever.” God, as we grieve, remind us of the far-reaching promises of resurrection. Help us live each day in anticipation of the life that awaits us on a brand-new Earth where we will live our lives in your presence, with those we love and who love you

Streams in my desert: The Best is Yet to Come - John saw a vision of a new heaven and a new earth replacing the millennial heaven and earth. "The heavens" as referred to here, does not include the heaven where God dwells. The absence of a sea assures us this verse does not refer to the millennial earth, because during the millennium large bodies of water will exist. It must describe the eternal earth. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them

Streams in my desert: Your Tears Have An Expiration Date - God will wipe away every tear - there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. This is the “restitution of all things,” and the deliverance of creation from the bondage of corruption which Paul anticipates. No words can portray in positive description what that universe will be, and even the inspired writer has to confine himself to negatives. Let us see to it that here and now the Lord Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the A and Z of our life

The Sons of God - we are called “sons of God.” The world can’t know this because the world does not know God. We are chosen and adopted into the family of the omnipotent Creator “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Not only that, but since we have been created “after God in righteousness and true holiness,” then as God’s “sons” we are “then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” We must “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” We are granted rights to “sit together” with Christ in heavenly places and we are commanded to “put on the whole armour of God”

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” - (1 John 3:1)

When John says “behold,” he uses the Greek word "eido," which might well be here rendered “focus your mind because this fact is important!” 

We are called “sons of God.” 

The world can’t know this because the world does not know God.

We are chosen (Ephesians 1:4) and adopted (Galatians 4:5) into the family of the omnipotent Creator “to be conformed to the image of his Son” - (Romans 8:29).

Not only that, but since we have been created “after God in righteousness and true holiness” - (Ephesians 4:24).

Then as God’s “sons” we are “then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” - (Romans 8:17).

This unique and priceless gift of sonship has the responsibilities of “sons” as well as the privileges. 

Yes, we are 

- made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), but 

- we are also called “unto holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7) and 

- expected to “work out” our salvation (Philippians 2:12) with fear and trembling. 

Although we are granted rights to “sit together” with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), we are commanded to “put on the whole armour of God” here on Earth so that we can “withstand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:11, 13).

Sonship also demands the “chastisement” of the Father (Hebrews 12:8) 

and the careful additions to our faith of the character disciplines of virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (2 Peter 1:5-7). 

Earthly sonship must “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” - (2 Peter 3:18).

BY HENRY M. MORRIS III, D.MIN. 

Days of Praise

the Institute for Creation Research 

At the Institute for Creation Research, we want you to know God’s Word can be trusted with everything it speaks about—from how and why we were made, to how the universe was formed, to how we can know God and receive all He has planned for us.

icr.org

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Lord of Hosts - the name is used to emphasize the mighty power of God and His great host of angels “that excel in strength, that do his commandments.” Not only is God Himself omnipotent and omniscient (after all, He is the Creator of all things!), but He has “an innumerable company of angels.” Occasionally, some of these mighty hosts have actually been seen by men. The great “captain of the host of the LORD” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ

The Father of the heavenly lights does not change like shifting shadows - we understand God’s sorrow over man’s sin. The fact that we are alive today is proof that God did not “change His mind” about the creation. God is entirely consistent. Because God does not change, He must treat the righteous differently from the unrighteous. If someone repents, God forgives; if someone refuses to repent, God consistently judges. He is unchanging in His nature, His plan and His being

Streams in my desert: The Song of Creation - it is significant that there was singing at the very time of creation. It is thus beautifully appropriate to sing of the glories of God’s creation, for angels were doing this even before Adam and Eve were created

Benefits of Speaking in Tongues - he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered"

1. Edifies you

"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church." - (1 Corinthians 14:4)

2. Speaking to God divine secrets
"For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries." - (1 Corinthians 14:2)

3. Speaking the wonderful works of God
"And they were amazed and astonished, saying, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 

"'Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians — we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.'” - (Acts. 2: 7-11)

4. Magnifying God
"For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." - (Acts 10:46)

5. Praying perfectly
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

"Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." - (Romans 8:26-27)

6. Giving thanks well
"For if [you] pray in a tongue...You indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified." - (1 Corinthians 14:17)

7. Having the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..." - (Romans 8:16)

8. Knowing you are a joint-heir with Christ
"And if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that
we may also be glorified together." - (Romans 8:17)

9. Strengthens you with might in your inner man
"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man." - (Ephesians 3:16)

10. A sign to unbelievers
"Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe." - (1 Corinthians 14:22)

11. A rest and refreshing to the soul
"For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, 'This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,' And, 'This is the refreshing'; Yet they would not hear." -  (Isaiah 28:11-12)

12. Brings a message from God or for God to the people (when interpreted)
"Now I wish that all of you spoke in unknown tongues, but even more [I wish] that you would prophesy. 

"The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains [what he says], so that the church may be edified [instructed, improved, strengthened]. 

"Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret." (verse 13)

"If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God." - (1 Corinthians 14:5, 13, 27-28)

Written by CFAITH Staff

cfaith.com

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We Are Children of God - God wants us to have a revelation of him as a father - a heavenly Father. How wonderful to know that he chose each of us to be his child solely on the basis of love and mercy. God not only chose you, but he adopted you as his child. And his Spirit tells you to cry, “Abba” to him, saying, “You have made me a joint-heir, a brother, to Jesus. You are truly mine.” In his mercy he says to you, “I want you — I choose you — because I want to be a father to you.” Lay down all your worldly loves and follow him today

"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." - Romans 8:15-17 

Devotional Thoughts

God wants us to have a revelation of him as a father — a heavenly Father! 

Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 

"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one” - (John 17:21-22). 

Jesus was saying here, “You say you want to know me, and that is good, but now I want you to know my Father as I know and enjoy him.”

God not only chose you, but he adopted you as his child. 

And his Spirit tells you to cry, “Abba” to him, saying, “You have made me a joint-heir, a brother, to Jesus. You are truly mine!”

How wonderful to know that he chose each of us to be his child solely on the basis of love and mercy. 

In his mercy he says to you, “I want you — I choose you — because I want to be a father to you.”

Lay down all your worldly loves and follow him today!

By David Wilkerson

worldchallenge.org

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